Redux will move to new King Street location in 2017

Movin' on up

After 14 years at 136 St. Philip St., Redux Contemporary Art Center is movin' on up — to Upper King that is. The arts center announced on Sun. Aug. 7 that after searching for a new home, it has a target opening date of Jan. 1, 2017 at the two-story warehouse at 1056 King St. The warehouse, also referred to as The Hanger, has been vacant for about 15 years.

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Provided

Tentative floor plan for Redux's new location.

The move to the new location, which is 15,000 square feet, will more than double Redux's gallery and studio space. Redux will have enough room to house a proposed 40 studios; the current location is home to 16. The studios will also range in size, from 95 square feet-448 square feet, with rent prices ranging from $285-$580.

In addition to more studio space, Redux will feature upgrades like high-end LED lighting, a dedicated print shop and classroom, and dark room equipment upgrade. The exhibition program will benefit from King Street storefront exposure, with the gallery and flex performance space located at the front of the building. A call for entries to show in the new gallery will be announced at a later date.

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The building at 1056 King St. was constructed in 1942 by the Sottile family to be used as a theater, but these plans never came to fruition because WWII forced the building to serve as a naval library. In later years, as previously mentioned, the building functioned as both a skating rink and the office of Port City Paper. One of the current owners of the Hanger, Ham Morrison, says, “Knowing it was originally built to showcase the arts, it is especially exciting to see it come full circle and again celebrate artistic endeavors with Redux as a tenant.”